"Ethics charges filed against Nickels," Seattle P-I, today.
Mayor Greg Nickels misused his office, employees and taxpayer money to create and distribute an eight-page booklet that looks a lot like campaign material, according to ethics charges filed against Nickels Thursday. Nickels is running for re-election this year.Wayne Barnett, executive director of the city's Ethics and Elections Commission, filed the charges and a hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 10 in front of the commission. The maximum fine to the mayor's campaign is $5,000. Nickels has raised nearly $500,000 in campaign contributions. The campaign may also be required to reimburse the city for expenses of producing and mailing the booklets.
Printing and mailing cost $2,205, according to the charges. Staff time for three employees was estimated at about 110 hours. In the notice of charges, Barnett said Nickels' accomplishments document is "promotional in nature" and "the mayor has used city facilities to assist his campaign for re-election."
...Much of the eight pages of information was directly repeated on Nickels campaign Web site, according to the charges....This year, the black-and-white booklet, with twice as many pages as in previous years, was mailed to about 3,000 addresses and e-mailed to many more on the city's distribution lists. It includes six pictures of the mayor.
The Mayor's spokeswoman says the charges are unfounded, and the pamphlet, mailed in February to dovetail with the Mayor's State of the City address, was part of the normal course of constituent communications. The maximum fine is paltry, and with a weak challenger in Al Runte, Nickels will be handily re-elected. But the ethics complaint may indeed be well-founded and underscores the often heavy-handed political touch of the Mayor and his minions.
For starters, the City's Ethics and Elections Commission should immediately put the complaint online, at the "Ethics" section of their Web site. Assuming Nickels lets them.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at September 29, 2005 06:19 PM | Email ThisSo the moral of the story is: if you're a politician or a state employee, go ahead and misappropriate public property (yes, it IS a crime), there will be no penalty beyond reimbursement.
Why wouldn't anybody abuse the system under this set of consequences?
Where is the City Attorney?
Posted by: Rascal on September 29, 2005 07:19 PMGreg Nickels uses some public money to create a nice puff sheet about himself, something I get in my mailbox about 30 times a year from politicos on both sides of the aisle, and the same crowd comments: "But the ethics complaint may indeed be well-founded and underscores the often heavy-handed political touch of the Mayor and his minions."
Now who has the reputation of being "heavy handed", Tom Delay or Greg Nickels?
The hypocrisy of this crowd is simply breathtaking.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on September 30, 2005 01:21 PMYou only wish.
What Tom Delay did is not a crime. What Greg Nickels did is not a crime.
The difference is that Greg Nickels used OUR money to produce campaign materials for himself. While not a crime, this is pure Seattle pork, and it is proper discussion in this venue, is it not?
Meanwhile, you offer the same defense that you denigrate...."public money"...."nice puff sheet"..."from politicos on both sides of the aisle." So everyone does this, and therefore it's okay if Nickels does it? It's okay for Nickels to waste our money because you get 30 mailings a year??
Your hypocrisy is transparent - but totally expected.
Posted by: Larry on September 30, 2005 03:19 PMI imagine political discussions around his house must be a laff riot!
Posted by: alphabet soup on September 30, 2005 03:38 PMAt least the prosecutor and a Grand Jury thought what Tom Delay did was a crime, a felony no less. But maybe you know something they don't.
Meanwhile the Bushies use hundreds of billions of $$$ in "public money", your's included, to fund a senseless war. And not a word of concern from the right on this forum.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on September 30, 2005 05:06 PMThat may be the case about Tom Delay - but what will you say in a month when the case is thrown out of court? Feel free to write that down - you're welcome to check back at the end of October to tell me how right I was. I do know something that they don't - malicious prosecutions based on zero evidence often backfire. It's too bad the DA doesn't know this.
As for that 'senseless' war - that's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. The 25 million free Iraqis don't feel that way. Freedom just costs too much for you, doesn't it? As long as those people are killing themselves, that's okay, right?? Saddam butchering hundreds of thousands of his own people is A-Okay to Unkl Witz. Bully for you.
You won't hear a word of concern from me because I know the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are making America and the world more safe every day.
Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with you that local politicians to use our money unethically and count votes from people who don't exist and pass laws that devalue land without compensation - becuase they're DEMOCRATS!! National Republicans have to be held to one standard, local Democrats to another.
You're a hypocrite - but at least you don't argue that point!
Posted by: Larry on September 30, 2005 05:33 PMBy all means, let's touch base in a month. If Delay's indictment has been thrown out by October 31, I'll buy you a drink. If not, you can buy me one.
You're right, the "senseless war" comment is my opinion. But it's an opinion that is widely held both in this country and abroad. You need to remind yourself that you don't speak for 25 million Iraquis. In fact any notion you have about how they regard the horror and chaos of the last three years is pretty much your own little fantasy, based as near as I can tell on your very narrow ideological views.
Even top Pentegon officials now concede that America and the world are not safer than they were prior to our invasion. Again, I think your position is based on wishfull thinking, not any objective analysis.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on September 30, 2005 06:56 PMThe only thing that swizzlestick can offer (besides incredibly poor advice) is arsenic and elderberry whine!
"At least the prosecutor and a Grand Jury thought what Tom Delay did was a crime, a felony no less. But maybe you know something they don't."
Actually, we all know it (well, except for Swizzlestick perhaps) but;
1. There's no evidence that any "felony" occurred (or even anything illegal)
2. There's no credible evidence that DeLay is involved in anything that is even suspectedly felonious
3. There is substantial, credible, verifiable evidence that the prosecutor is guilty of malicious prosecution against (among others) Mr. DeLay.
Naturally swizzlestick is so prepossessed of his (idiotic) notions, that he easily falls for this moronic democrat (but I repeat myself) ploy.
Yea, we'll see where "we" stand in month's time, but when this crap has failed to make it even to the courts docket do you think swizzlestick will admit it? Has he ever?
This simple-minded buffoon who defies the laws of "logical" gravity "Even top Pentegon officials now concede that America and the world are not safer than they were prior to our invasion" and then offers "Again, I think your position is based on wishful thinking, not any objective analysis.", which, of course, is the essence of his POV.
Fortunately, no one at the Pentagon shares the opinions of those misbegotten fools at this "Pentegon" (whatever that is ;'}
Whatta putz!
Posted by: alphabet soup on September 30, 2005 09:06 PMPerhaps you'd like to join Larry and I next month for a round of drinks. Sounds like a slam dunk to me.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on September 30, 2005 09:44 PMThe days when the MSM can just say Boo and we conservatives drop our pants and give up one of our own are over. We know very well how the game is played. It starts with a baseless chant by the professional protestors who are out while we are working. You say the rhyme over and over again and it suddenly is a talking point for the heads on CNN.
Now the baseless incitement comes in. It didn’t work with Kay Hutchison, it was just lib junk thrown against the wall and it didn’t stick. Time to try it again. Let’s get Delay.
So far Delay is guilty of the being very effective. The redistricting in Texas sent the minority party into a fit. Ronnie Earle has a poor track record and zero credibility with me. Any DA can get a Grand Jury to indite anyone. I will wait to see the results of the trial. The days when the MSM can run someone off because they don’t like him or her are over. We have more than the Times and PI to read now.
If Delay is Guilty he should go. So too should Pelosi. What is good for the conservative is good for the liberal. The silence of the MSM on Pelosi was deafening.
Tom Delay and Bill Frist really don't have anything to worry about, the wheels really haven't fallen off Bushy's foriegn and domestic policy, Social Security reform is on track, Dick Cheney is a lovable fuzzball, and Karl Rove has a heart of gold. Just ask Rush or Sean, they'll set you straight.
Let's get back to the real issue of public servants commiting crimes, like Greg Nickels office publishing self-serving pamphlets to send to his constituents. I'm shocked, absolutely shocked.
Remind me what felony crimes Nancy Pelosi was found guilty of....
Posted by: Unkl Witz on October 1, 2005 11:11 AMI'll wait for the evidence to be presented.
Just yelling "Bushie" is not really much of an arguement,and as a single word..it does not even rhyme. Posted by: Brad on October 1, 2005 05:53 PM
As for Delay, Reid, Pelosi, Frist, Kennedy and much of US congress - alot of them are probably equally guilty of money laundering. The judges who indict should also have their records scrutinized by the public.
Wake up and smell the coffee - this situation is the product of the caliber of people we elect and typically, we get the government we deserve - being that this society has become increasingly selfish, litigious and if we had better look in the mirror at ourselves be honest and ask would we do the same thing that Tom DeLay is alleged to have done ? Actually, the people here are only responsible for electing Cantwell (perhaps not-but we'll never know) and Murray along with our beloved US Representatives. Do you really trust these folks ? or did you hold your nose when voted ? Unfortunately the mediocrity of the local, State and Federal Government, is mainly a combination of campaign finance reform along with apathy and ignorance of the general electorate that helps getting these types elected.
Nøw if Nickels gets indicted for this, then maybe this would be newsworthy - maybe pigs would fly (ie.fat chance).
I'm not sure why anyone would take you up on a bet (or anything else)...you have no honor, no shame, and apparently no sense either, but you've caught me in a weak moment.
Name the place & the time and I'll be there...
Posted by: alphabet soup on October 1, 2005 10:49 PMI notice you are so brave and honorable you feel the need to hide behind a fake e-mail address. Care to tell us why?
Posted by: Unkl Witz on October 2, 2005 08:47 PMPut up or shut up phool...
Posted by: alphabet soup on October 2, 2005 09:07 PM"I, Greg, hereby and forever cut any and all links between sanity and results and accountability in our fair City Council's dealings with the public stakeholders and their trust and their funds." Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on October 2, 2005 10:00 PM
You made the challenge to Larry and then boldly included me into it. I accepted your challenge. Tell me where to meet you for "your drink".
Or shut the hell up and go away.
It's as simple as that.
Posted by: alphabet soup on October 3, 2005 07:19 AMYou're a coward and bully soupy. You have nothing to say that adds to the political dialogue.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on October 3, 2005 09:49 AMLike I said, I'll be right here at the end of the month. If the indictments no longer stand, I'll buy you and Larry (if we can find him) a drink.
In the meantime, you just keep your head down, and keep shouting names at those with whom you disagree. I'm sure all of your fellow conservatives are very proud of you.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on October 3, 2005 07:40 PMYou'll be around, because (among your many other faults) you have no shame, but obviously you have no honor, and consequently, no intention of following through.
If you did, you would have named a time and a place.
You are a weasely little toad, and all who come to these pages can see it.
Your silly dodge about me "running and hiding" doesn't wash. I'm right here waiting for you to name the time and place.
It's really quite easy.
Put up or shut up you toad....
Posted by: alphabet soup on October 3, 2005 10:08 PMOne thing we do know is that you certainly won't be around if those indictments are still extant.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on October 4, 2005 07:22 AM